Combination concentrator and classifier



A. E. KEABLES. COMBINATION CONCENTRATOR AND cLAssmER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22 I919.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. KEABLES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINATION CONCENTRATOR AND GLASSIFIER.

Application filed May 22, 1919.

b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. Knxnnns, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in CombinationConcentrators and Classifiers, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a combination concentrator and classifier.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple,substantial and easily operated machine for concentrating andclassifying metal bearing sands and ores and particularly a machine forseparating fine gold and other valuable metals from black sand and thelike.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed, which includes a series of revolving screens of varyingdiameter and mesh, through which the material to be classified orseparated, is passed. Further, to provide means for maintaining thescreens and material handled submerged in water when the machine isoperated and also to provide means for collecting the materialseparated.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combinationand arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section through the machine.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of same on line 22, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a box-shaped containerin which is mounted a series of revolving screens generally indicated at2 and 3. Extending longitudinally through the box and journaled inbearing members a and 5, is a shaft 6 upon which the cylindrical screens2 and are mounted. The screen 2 consists of a cylinder 7 which issupported with relation to the shaft by means of a series of radiallydisposed arms or spokes 8; said screen is not continuous but serves as acovering for a series of angularly disposed openings formed in thecenter portion of the cylinder, as indicated at 9. The screen indicatedat 8 is similarly supported by means of a cylinder 9 and merely servesas a covering for a series of openings 10 formed therein, said cylinder9 being secured with relation to the cylinder '7 by a head member 11 atone end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1.3, 19.20.

Serial No. 298,972.

and by a series of arms 12 at the opposite end. Secured with relation tothe exterior screen cylinder 9 is a cylinder 13 which in this instanceserves the function of an amalgamating pan. Both ends of the cylinder 13are closed by head members 1 1, said head members also serving thefunction of supporting the amalgamating pan with relation to thecylinders shown at T and 9 respectively.

Formed in the forward end of the cylinder 7 which supports the severalscreens indicated at 2, is a central opening 15, into which extends afeed spout 16. Said spout passes through the end of the box and isconnected with a feed hopper 17 of suitable construction. Formed withinthe box and supported by the bottom portion of same are a series ofpartition members such as indi- -ated at 18, 19 and 20 and formed in thebottom of the box between said partitions are a series of dischargeopenings 21 which may be opened or closed by means of plugs or spigotsnot shown.

In actual operation I prefer to support the box on a timber frame suchas shown at 23, to permit the box, together with the cylinders mountedtherein, to assume a slightly tilted position to permit the materialadmitted to feed by gravity through the cylinders. Material is deliveredto hopper 17 and discharges from the same through the spout 16 into theforward end of the cylinder 7. It will thus pass over the screens 2 andall fine material will therefore pass through the screens while thecoarser material will discharge through the end of the cylinder 7between the end of the box and the partition member 20, from where itmay be removed through the spigot opening 21. All fine material passingthrough the screens 2 will enter the cylinder 9 and it is here foundthat a considerable quantity of material will pass through the screens 3and enter the amalgamating pan 13, the remaining material beingpermitted to discharge through the open end of the.cylinder 9 into thespace formed between the partition members 19 and 20.

Three classifications of material are thus obtained: first, thatdischarged by cylinder 7; secondly. that discharged by the cylinder 9;and third, that which is received by the amalgamating pan 18. An annularopening is formed at one end of the amalgamating pan, as indicated at25, this opening being provided for the purpose of permitting thematerial received thereby to freely discharge into the chamber formedbetween the partition members 18 and 19. For instance, when handlingblack sand or like material, it can readily be seen that a considerablequantity of fine black sand will enter the amalgamating pan. This sandwould accumulate rapidly and would consequently fill the same unless itcould freely discharge, as shown. All fine gold contained will, however,be retained as a considerable quantity of quick silver is placed in theamalgamating pan to catch the fine gold and thereby prevent its escape.

The machine shown in the present instance may be used for a variety ofpurposes; for instance, first, it may serve the function of a screeningmachine where different grades of materials are required. Secondly, itmay be employed as a classifier in mills or the like where it isdesirable to separate the ground or crushed ores into grades ofdifferent sizes. Third, it may be, and has been, employed for thepurpose of handling placer and beach deposits where considerable finegold is encountered as all fine gold will work-outwardly and finallyenter the amalgamating pan where it is absorbed by the quick silvercontained.

From actual experience I find that the separating action is exceedinglyefficient as the screens are maintained in constant rotation during theoperation of the machine by means of a pulley 26 or the like. Theconstant rotation produces sufiicient centrifugal action to throw thematerial outwardly against the screens provided and it furthermoreproduces an outward circulation of water which washes and forces thefine materials through the screens, thus obtaining a quick and efiicientseparating action.

I further find that the wear on the screens is materially reduced as thescreens and material handled is maintained in a submerged conditionduring operation. This is of considerable importance as it substantiallyreduces the weight of the material handled, thereby relieving thescreens of excess wear. Packing or clogging of the screens is similarlyprevented. When handling different materials, I find that the speed ofrotation may be varied; for instance, certain crushed ores will stand acomparatively high speed while other materials require a considerablereduction in speed, practical experience with different grades ofmaterial being the only safe method of determining the quantity to bedelivered and the speed with which the screens should be revolved. Watermay be delivered to the box in any suitable manner; for instance, by asmall pump or any other suitable means. I have therefore not illustrated such mechanism in the present instance. I

While a more or less specific structure is here shown, I wish itunderstood that varia-' tions may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims; similarly, that the materials and finish of the severalparts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of themanufacturer may dictate ,or the material handled may require, the

size and mesh of the screens employed being similarly varied to suitdifierent materials.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is- 1. An inclined box-shaped container having transversepartitions of different height extending upwardly from the bottom, apower shaft journalcd longitudinally within the container, a pluralityof cylinders mounted concentrically on said shaft and having inclinedscreens fixed at intervals in the periphery, the inner cylinderextending beyond the outermost partition and the outer cylinderdischarging between said partition and the next interior one, and meansto supply material to the inner cylinder and discharge the collectionsfrom each of said in closed spaces.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, an inclined segmentalcontainer having partitions extending upwardly from the bottom, alongitudinally journaled shaft, concentric cylinders of differentlengths hav ing screens formed at intervals in the sides, means tosupply material into the upper end of the inner cylinder and the lowerend of said cylinder discharging beyond the lowermost partition and theoutermost and shorter cylinder terminating to discharge into the nextinterior compartment, and a closed cylinder surrounding the outer ofsaid screen cylinder having an annular channel at its lower end anddischarging into a third compartment of the container.

3. A concentrator and classifier including two inclined concentricrotary cylinders having diagonal interrupted screens in theirperipheries, an exterior closed cylinder having an annular channelaround its lowest end, a shaft around which said cylinders are disposed,and an inclosing container with partitions forming compartments intowhich the longer inner and the shorter outer screen cylinder and theclosed exterior cylinder respectively discharge, means to supplymaterial to the higher end of the inner cylinder to pass through theouter ones, and controlled discharge openings in the successivecontainer compartments.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALBERT E. KEABLES.

Vitnesses Tnno. OASTBERG, W. W. HEALEY.

